Experimental Research in

Architecture

Mohammad Syedur Rahman, Studio X, KUAD, Khulna University, Khulna

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
CHARACTERISTICS
• The use of independent variables & measurement of outcome or dependent variables
• A clear unit of assignment (to the treatment) [random assignment-experimental; non random-quasi-experimental]
• The use of a comparison (or control) group
• A focus on causality

TACTICS
Treatment
Study Setting or Outcome Measures – Design decision
Simulation

Fig: experiment in pentagonism Fig: Modelling of a Lighthouse by Fig: ‘Structure and Experiment’ at Headquarters of the Marcedez Benz (MBVD)
modular residential construction Virginia Woolf
Design Method in a project life cycle (Achten, H. H.:2009)

Fig: Traditional experimental design process

Fig: Simulation as Design Driver

• Achten, H. H. (2009). Experimental design methods—a review. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 7(4), 505-534.
Examples

1. Croxford, B., Penn,A. and Hillier, B. (1996). Spatial distribution of urban pollution: civilizing urban traffic.The science of the total environment 189/190 (october): pp. 3-9.
2. Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984).The social logic of space, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Davis, L.S. and Benedikt, M.L. (1979). Computational models of space: isovists and isovist fields, Computer graphics and image processing 11(1): pp. 49-72.
4. Tabak,Vincent (2008). User Simulation of Space Utilisation – System for Office Building Usage Simulation. PhD Thesis, Eindhoven: Eindhoven University of Technology.
Examples

1. Gün, Onur Yüce (2007) Composing the Bits of Surfaces in Architectural Practice, In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K.(eds.): Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Education and Research in Computer
Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 859-868.

1. Achten, Henri and Joosen, Gijs (2003).The Digital Design Process – Reflections on a Single Design Case. In Dokonal,W. and Hirschberg, U. (eds.): Digital Design - Proceedings of the 21st International eCAADe Conference. Graz:
Graz University of Technology. pp. 269-274.
2. 53. Bonwetsch,Tobias; Bärtschi, Ralph; Kobel, Daniel; Gramazio, Fabio; Kohler, Matthias (2007) Digitally Fabricating Tilted Holes, In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K. (eds.) Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25th International
Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 793-799
 STRENGTHS
• Establishing causality (cause and effect relationship or parametric)
• Generalizing results to other settings and phenomena
• Control on overall experimental design aspects

WEAKNESSES
• Overgeneralization to different ethnic, gender population
• Ethical problems, dehumanization.

• Groat, L. N., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural research methods. John Wiley & Sons.
References
1. Groat, L. N., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural research methods. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Achten, H. H. (2009). Experimental design methods—a review. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 7(4), 505-534.
3. Croxford, B., Penn,A. and Hillier, B. (1996). Spatial distribution of urban pollution: civilizing urban traffic.The science of the total environment 189/190 (october): pp. 3-9.
4. Hillier, B. and Hanson, J. (1984).The social logic of space, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5. Davis, L.S. and Benedikt, M.L. (1979). Computational models of space: isovists and isovist fields, Computer graphics and image processing 11(1): pp. 49-72.
6. Tabak,Vincent (2008). User Simulation of Space Utilisation – System for Office Building Usage Simulation. PhD Thesis, Eindhoven: Eindhoven University of Technology.
7. Gün, Onur Yüce (2007) Composing the Bits of Surfaces in Architectural Practice, In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K.(eds.): Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25 th
International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt: Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 859-868.
8. Achten, Henri and Joosen, Gijs (2003).The Digital Design Process – Reflections on a Single Design Case. In Dokonal,W. and Hirschberg, U. (eds.): Digital Design -
Proceedings of the 21st International eCAADe Conference. Graz: Graz University of Technology. pp. 269-274.
9. 53. Bonwetsch,Tobias; Bärtschi, Ralph; Kobel, Daniel; Gramazio, Fabio; Kohler, Matthias (2007) Digitally Fabricating Tilted Holes, In Kieferle, J. and Ehlers, K. (eds.)
Predicting the Future: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Frankfurt:
Fachhochschule Frankfurt, pp. 793-799